asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will ensure that in future pension increases are not affected by reductions in social security benefits.

No. In order to protect the interests of supplementary pensioners, it may be necessary in the future, as in 1968, to raise supplementary pensions in advance of a general increase in pensions. If this were done, the interim increase could not be ignored at the time of the next general increase in pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the retirement pension for a married couple as a percentage of average industrial male weekly earnings in November, 1959, November, 1964, and November, 1969.

By reference to October figures in the D.E.P.'s series of half-yearly inquiries into earnings the percentages for November, 1959, and November, 1964, were 29·5 and 30·1 respectively. The calculation for 1969 cannot yet be made because the comparable earnings figure for October, 1969, is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the administrative cost of the supplementary benefits scheme as a percentage of the total benefit paid; and how this compares with the figure for the National Assistance Board in the last year of its operation.

Nine per cent. in the financial year 1968–69 compared with 10 per cent. in the financial year 1965–66, the last full year in which the National Assistance scheme was in operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the National Council for the Single Woman and her Dependants on a constant care allowance for people who give up work in order to care for aged and infirm relatives; and what his policy is on this matter.

I met a deputation from the Council as recently as 6th October and explained our intentions. These are as set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Smethwick (Mr. Faulds) on 3rd November.—[Vol. 790, c. 15–16.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was disbursed during the last financial year in social security benefits; and what estimate he has of the proportion of this sum which went to males under 40 years of age and in good health.

In all, £3,172 million, of which £429 million was supplementary benefit and £123 million was unemployment benefit. It is estimated that the total paid by way of supplementary benefit and unemployment benefit to males under 40 years of age who were registering for work at employment exchanges was of the order of £75 million or rather less than 2½per cent. of the total paid out in social security benefits during the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he is aware that the officially announced figure for the average wage is £30 per week and that many sick and disabled persons are in receipt of £5 per week; and if he will take steps to assist such disabled people to receive a higher income;(2) whether he has considered the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North showing that two of his constituents, both sick, live on a total sum of £10 5s. per week; and what action he proposes to take to assist these people and those in a similar position to receive a reasonable income from the welfare funds.

My hon. Friend's communication is being considered and I will be writing to him shortly. The Government recognise the needs of the sick and others unable to work. As my hon. Friend knows, the recently increased rates of supplementary benefit are worth over a fifth more in real terms than the equivalent national assistance rates in October, 1964. This excludes the separate allowance for rent and the long-term addition, now 10s. which goes to most long-term cases. The Government will continue to do all that is practicable to help such people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many very severely disabled people he anticipates will be eligible for the proposed attendance allowance; and what estimate he has made of the cost of the scheme;(2) how many long-term sick people he anticipates will be eligible for the proposed invalidity pension; and what estimate he has made of the cost of the scheme.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication shortly of the Bill to implement the proposals for social security contained in Command Papers Nos. 3883 and 4124. The Report by the Government Actuary which will accompany the Bill will give estimates for attendance allowance and invalidity pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, following the further evidence submitted by the hon. Member for Twickenham about abuses over supplementary benefits, he will now amend the rules governing the disbursement of such benefits.

The hon. Member's evidence would justify neither changes in the entitlement provisions of the scheme, nor innovations in administrative practice, which is of course under constant scrutiny in the light of all the relevant evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the expected income, outgo and balance of the National Insurance Fund, including the Exchequer contribution shown separately, for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming the present arrangements continue and that the cost of living index and earnings remain constant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the expected balance of the National Insurance Fund for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming the present arrangements continue, that the cost of living index and earnings rise at the average rate shown for the last decade and that pensions rise in line with the cost of living index.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the expected income, outgo and balance of the National Insurance Fund, including the Exchequer contribution shown separately, for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming the present arrangements continue except that the present ceiling of the scheme is increased to national average earnings and that the cost of living index and earnings remain constant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the expected balance of the National Insurance Fund, for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming the present arrangements continue except that the present ceiling of the scheme is increased to national average earnings and that the cost of living index and earnings rise at the average rate shown for the last decade.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will produce a table showing the expected balance of the National Supernnuation Fund for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming that the proposals outlined in Command Paper No. 3883 are implemented in 1972 and there is no change in the cost of living index or earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will produce a table showing the expected balance of the National Superannuation Fund, for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming that the proposals outlined in Command Paper No. 3883 are implemented in 1972 and that the cost of living index and earnings rise at the average rate shown in the last decade.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the expected balance of the National Superannuation Fund for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming that the proposals outlined in Command Paper No. 3883 are implemented in 1972, except that the ceiling of the scheme was reduced to national average earnings, and that the cost of living index and earnings rise at the average rate shown in the last decade.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the expected balance of the National Superannuation Fund for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming that the proposals outlined in Command Paper No. 3883 are implemented in 1972, except that the ceiling of the scheme was reduced to national average earnings, and that there is no change in the cost of living index or earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the expected balance of the National Superannuation Fund for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming that the proposals outlined in Command Paper No. 3883 are implemented in 1972, that there is no change in the cost of living index or earnings and that contributions and pensions are abated by 1·5 per cent. per side and one per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the expected balance of the National Super-annuation Fund for the years 1972–73, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1987–88 and 1992–93, assuming that the proposals outlined in Command Paper No. 3883 are implemented in 1972, that the cost of living index and earnings rise at the average rate shown in the last decade and that contributions and pensions are abated by 1·5 per cent. per side and one per cent. respectively.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the publication shortly of the Bill to implement the proposals for social security contained in Cmnd. 3883. This will be accompanied by a report from the Government Actuary on the financial provisions of the Bill which will show the estimated progress of the National Superannuation Fund and compare the estimated costs of national superannuation benefits with those that would be incurred if the present national insurance scheme had continued to the end of the century.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from representatives of occupational and private pension schemes following the most recent White Paper on the subject.

None, direct; though have noted with interest the considerable Press and other comment on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that where a husband and wife are receiving supplementary benefit or supplementary pension their individual allowance is paid separately to each.

The requirements and resources of a married couple who are living together are not separable and the Ministry of Social Security Act provides for payment to the husband unless there are special reasons for paying some or all of it to the wife. My right hon. Friend can see no reason for changing this provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Supplementary Benefits Commission to have completed its review of disabled persons subject to the wage stop.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission hopes that its review will be completed by the end of January. Any increases of benefit payable to people who cease to be subject to the wage stop as a result of the review will take effect from the beginning of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate the employment conditions and practices prevailing in the employment of dental receptionists, with a view to establishing a career structure and terms of employment such as people enjoy in the hospital service who engage in like work.

No, the size of the average practice is too small to enable general dental practitioners to establish a career structure for their ancillary staffs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will offer financial assistance to nurses during training, on the same or similar basis as grants given to teachers.

No. Student nurses already receive higher training allowances on a basis more appropriate to their circumstances. These allowances are under review by the Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the salary of midwives in training, after their qualification as nurses.

This will be considered by the Whitley Council as part of the new pay claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what aspects of industrial and social benefits British workers will compare favourably or unfavourably with the best Common Market countries; and what considerations will arise for discussion in the negotiations.

Comparative tables are available in the Library. We cannot foresee what will be discussed in the negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps to provide a free chiropody service by fully qualified and registered chiropodists for those unable to pay the charges for treatment made by the private practitioners.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assistance and facilities he is giving to general practitioners to carry out simple tests which, by detecting blood in the urine, help diagnose malignant diseases of the urinary tract at an early stage.

Reagents for this purpose are readily available to general practitioners through normal commercial channels.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider making available a specific grant to local health authorities to expand their family planning provision, and in particular to provide domiciliary facilities.

As I told my hon. Friend on 14th July, I have no powers to make such a grant.—[Vol. 787, c. 20.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to expand training schemes for social service personnel in order to implement the proposals of the Seebohm Report on which legislation is to be introduced this Session.

The implications of the Seebohm Report for the training of social workers are being examined along with the rest of the Report's recommendations. Meantime expansion of existing training facilities which is already in train will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he is making in conjunction with the appropriate medical professional organisations with a view to issuing a report on the working of the Abortion Act.

I cannot yet add to what I said on 3rd November in reply to the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) and other hon. Members. —[Vol. 790, c. 650–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows under 50 years of age receive no pension.

It is estimated that at any one time there are about 25,000 widows under 50 years of age who receive no pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds are available at the Midland Centre for Neurosurgery, Smethwick; and how many of these are in actual use.

91:63.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that, despite the building of the new Royal Infirmary in Hull, there remains an acute shortage of beds in the area; and what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs.

The total number of beds in the Hull and East Riding area is sufficient, but the distribution of beds and facilities in the Hull area is unbalanced. The board's programme includes schemes to remedy this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total annual income available from all sources to the Health Education Council; and if he is satisfied that this will be adequate to enable the Health Education Council to combat the campaign against fluoridation of water supplies.

The council's total income for 1969–70 is expected to be about £320,000. I am informed that it proposes to devote £16,000 to education about fluoridation in addition to the cost of its own staff who are engaged in this; and for expenditure on research. It will consider additional expenditure according to results. This appears to me reasonable in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the proposal to build two health centres at Stockport.

In May this year my right hon. Friend gave loan consent for the building of a health centre at Heaton Moor. In November last approval was given to the building of another health centre at Offerton, and my right hon. Friend is ready to give loan consent for this when he receives the necessary formal application.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities are available for electro-encephalography in the Coventry and North Warwickshire area; and what is the average waiting time for this investigation.

Facilities for electroencephalography for patients from this area are provided at the Central Hospital, near Warwick. The average waiting time for non-urgent cases has recently increased to three months owing to the breakdown of a machine, but a replacement is expected very shortly. The regional hospital board is reviewing the services in the region.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities are available and planned for neurosurgical investigation and treatment in the Coventry and North Warwickshire area.

Out-patient facilities are available at Walgrave Hospital and some in-patient investigations are carried out there. The area is served by the Midland Centre for Neurosurgery and Neurology, Smethwick, which is the regional centre. There are also facilities at the United Birmingham Hospitals. No. change is at present contemplated in these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and women, respectively, have been sterilised in Great Britain in 1966, 1967 and 1968; what proportion of these women was sterilised under the National Health Service; and on what grounds.

Estimated numbers for National Health Service hospitals only, based on a 10 per cent. sample of inpatient records, were as follows:

England and Wales (1966)
Males	…	…	…	110
Females	…	…	…	7,650
Scotland (1967)
Males	…	…	…	62
Females	…	…	…	1,509

These figures exclude operations in which sterilisation was not the underlying purpose. Information is not available for the other years requested, nor of the grounds for these operations, nor for operations performed outside the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women were sterilised following operations for termination of pregnancy under the National Health Service in 1968 and during the first nine months of 1969.

The only figures at present available are those notified under the Abortion Act, 1967.The numbers notified in National Health Service hospitals during the period 27th April, 1968 to 30th June, 1969, were 9,491 in England and Wales and 1,054 in Scotland.Later figures are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will introduce legislation to clarify the legal risks borne by doctors who sterilise men or women on either medical or non-medical grounds.

No such legislation is contemplated. Doctors who are in any doubt about the legality of sterilisation in any particular case would doubtless consult their professional defence organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was, for each of the years 1960 to 1968, the number of illegitimate births in England and Wales; how many children were born to women married less than nine months; and what was the percentage of all live births which the total of these two figures represented.

The figures are in the table which follows:

		Illegitimate live births	Live births* to women married less than eight months	Total	Percentage of all live births
1960†	…	43,281	54,576	97,857	12·4
1961	…	48,490	59,115	107,605	13·3
1962	…	55,376	62,455	117,831	14·0
1963	…	59,104	64,427	123,531	14·5
1964	…	63,340	67,933	131,273	15·0
1965	…	66,249	70,457	136,706	15·8
1966	…	67,056	71,648	138,704	16·3
1967	…	69,928	73,667	143,595	17·3
1968	…	69,806	74,531	144,337	17·6
* Legitimate live births to women married once only.
† 1960 figures relate to maternities.

The figures in the second column are for births to women married less than eight months since these are generally considered to give a better estimate of premarital conceptions than that derived from the nine-month convention. I will write to my hon. Friend explaining in detail why the eight-month convention is preferred and giving the corresponding figures for births to women married less than nine months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many radiographers he estimates are in training at the present time; what is the total number of radiographers at present employed within the National Health Service; and how many private contracting firms offer the service of National Health Service trained radiographers to hospitals.

In the hospital service in England and Wales about 1,500 radiography students are in training, the total number of qualified radiographers employed—in terms of whole time equivalents—was 4,552 at 30th September, 1968, the latest date for which figures are available, and I am aware of 11 agencies offering services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of wastage in each of the last three years of radiographers who left the National Health Service after receiving their training and having qualified.

Information is only available for net gains or losses. In 1966, 1967 and 1968 respectively there were net increases—in terms of whole time equivalents—of 167, 141 and 181 radiographers in the hospital service in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the concern among medical laboratory technicians about the recommendations of the Zuckermann Report on the Hospital Scientific and Technical Services, if he will initiate discussions with their professional body, the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology, before reaching any final decisions on the Report.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Fortescue) on 13th October.—[Vol. 788, c. 21.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the nursing staffing situation at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport; and what action he is taking to re-open wards recently closed owing to staff shortages.

In terms of whole time equivalents the nursing establishment of this hospital is 454·75 and the staff in post is 400. Everything possible is being done by the hospital management committee to improve the recruitment of nurses to the hospital including local advertising aimed at attracting nurses back on full or part time.It is proposed to establish a pupil nurse training school at this hospital in the near future and this is expected to improve recruitment.The closed wards will be reopened as soon as staffing permits.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office Board to discontinue the practice under which post offices refuse to renew television licences until reminders that they are due for renewal have been received by licencees.

No such practice is followed.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether a decision has yet been made with regard to the scale of postal charges which will come into effect as a result of decimalisation.

I have nothing to add yet to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 21st October.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will seek powers to control obscene programmes on television.

No. The broadcasting authorities are responsible for programme content. I do not intervene.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he is aware of the increased charges for LST 5 equipment; if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to reduce these charges because of the hardship they are imposing on disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to ensure that the severely disabled who need a specially adapted telephone will not be charged a higher rental than normal telephone users.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to provide special telephone equipment needed by severely disabled persons without additional charges.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office Board to relieve the severely disabled from the cost of the proposed increase in Post Office charges for the rental of telephones specially adapted for use with Possum equipment.

As with other nationalised industries, it would not be appropriate to use the Post Office as an agency for giving financial assistance on welfare grounds. I am informed by the Post Office that there has been no recent increase in charges for the special equipment referred to.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what consideration he has given to the Scicon Report on data transmission services and their effect on the national economy; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the Post Office, in the light of the report, to formulate its own plans for the future of its data transmission services.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will introduce a concessionary television licence to all other retirement pensioners in view of the fact that a concessionary television licence of 1s. is granted to retirement pensioners residing in local authority housing attached to a warden's residence; and if he will make a statement on the operation of such a concessionary licence.

I have considered the position of retirement pensioners in general in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Social Services. We concluded that concessionary licences are not the right way to help.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what plans he has to establish a local radio station for Humberside; and if he will make a statement.

I shall make a statement in the House tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what was the total value of contracts placed by his Department with major plant suppliers with factories in the Northern Development Area in 1967–68 and 1968–69.

None by my Department, which was set up on 1st October, 1969. Information about Post Office contracts in earlier years is not immediately available and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) whether he will issue a direction to the Post Office Board to waive the connection charges for telephones for those who have had to be rehoused because they have been made homeless by reason of floods;(2) if he will issue a direction to the Post Office Board to give financial assistance for connection charges for telephones to elderly people who live in isolated areas.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) and others.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what percentage of letters bearing a 4d. stamp is now being delivered three or more days after posting.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Kenneth Baker) and other hon. Members on 16th October. This too is a matter for the Post Office.—[Vol. 788, c. 572–4.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office Board that in publishing dates for the latest postings of parcels and letters for delivery overseas, and in making arrangements therefor, due consideration shall be given to methods of transport now generally in use.

No. These are matters for the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when colour television on B.B.C. 1 and independent television will be available to the people of Bedford from the Sandy Heath transmitter.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tyenmouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 16th October, 1969.—[Vol. 788, c. 578–80.]

asked the Minister of Post and Telecommunications if he will amend the Wireless Telegraphy Act to permit refunds of the unexpired portion of television licences when licencees who are pensioners give up their homes.

No. My general policy is not to give refunds on broadcast receiving licences, as the cost would be prohibitive; and it would be unfair to vary this policy in favour of special groups in the community while excluding other people whose cases could in particular instances be as good or better.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many county towns in England and Wales do not have a Crown Post Office; in how many the Crown Post Office is under threat of closure; and if he will list those in each category.

These are matter for the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a statement on the progress made in the last three months in the detection of television and radio licence fee evaders; and whether he will give figures showing the increase in numbers of licences issued in England and Wales, and Scotland, respectively, in the same period.

In the three months ending 31st October, the number of combined television and radio licences in England and Wales rose from 13,923,000 to 13,983,000 and in Scotland from 1,397,000 to 1,407,000.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will seek to establish a Broadcasting Council, with functions and powers similar to those of the Press Council.

No. The B.B.C. and the I.T.A. are public authorities vested with responsibility for safeguarding the national interest. They are not comparable with commercial companies which produce newspapers.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office Board to relieve the severely disabled from having to pay the extra sum for specially adapted telephones; and if he will make a statement.

No. Such a direction would not be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Technology what studies are in progress for a civil vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Hawker Siddeley Aircraft are studying the concepts of direct lift by jet engines, and by a form of rotor which can be stowed during forward flight. Westland Aircraft are studying the convertible rotor.

asked the Minister of Technology what work he is supporting on the development of electric or steam cars.

The main problem of the electric car is the battery. The Department is therefore supporting work aimed at the development of batteries with high energy storage capacity. The Department is also studying the application of the steam engine to automobiles, but the indications are that problems associated with development of a useful engine are considerable.

asked the Minister of Technology how many visits have been arranged by his Department during the last 12 months for firms interested in moving into the Consett-Stanley, County Durham, special development area.

In the past 12 months arrangements were made for seven firms to visit the Consett-Stanley area, which has also been suggested to a further sixteen firms.

asked the Minister of Technology what action he is taking to promote research and development in the Northern Region.

The Department has placed contracts for research and development, both direct and through N.R.D.C., with a number of industrial firms in the Northern Region and with International Research & Development Ltd. We are now considering assisting with the establishment of a Marine Industries Unit at Newcastle University.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) if he will make a statement on the Governmental conference on European Space Research Organisation of 18th and 19th November;

Following industrial studies of a European television relay satellite, it has become necessary to reexamine the requirement of the European Broadcasting Union, taking into account also the interests of the European postal and telecommunications administrations. The Committee of Senior Officials of the European Space Conference accordingly agreed unanimously on 10th November, 1969, to set up a Working Group, including representatives of the European Broadcasting Union and the European Conference on Posts and Telecommunications, charged with optimising a requirement for a European telecommunications satellite which would have the best prospect of economic viability and at the same time be of the greatest benefit to European space technology. An initial report is expected early next year. The Governmental Conference planned for 18th-19th November was, in the circumstances, cancelled. The United Kingdom has already indicated its willingness to participate in the development of a European television relay satellite to meet the requirements of the European Broadcasting Union.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations he has received from the United States Government about the proposal to launch a vehicle into a geostationary orbit with a Thor Delta rocket; and what reply he has sent.

We have received no representation on this matter from the United States Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the mixed commission investigating the boundary dispute between Guatemala and British Honduras.

No mixed commission is carrying out any such investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the £2+ million which are being spent on the British Pavilion in Expo 70 at Osaka will be devoted to showing the achievements of Wales and Welsh industry; and in what way this will be done.

The introduction to the British Pavilion will illustrate the landscape, people and daily life of Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland together with their flags and floral emblems. Other displays will include the atomic power stations at Wylfa and Trawsfyndd, films about the construction of the Severn Bridge and about the Welsh-designed "sea Mantis". There will also be a number of items about life in Wales.The cultural events planned in connection with British participation include performances by the Cardiff Polyphonic Choir, both on the United Kingdom National Day and on other occasions.I regret that information on the exact proportion of the expenditure which relates to Wales is not readily available and the excessive cost of undertaking such a calculation would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects negotiations to be reopened with Spain to remove the restrictions at present being enforced against the Gibraltarians; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans for formal talks. We are in normal diplomatic contact with the Spanish Government and have made our views on Gibraltar known to them: it is important to explore any possibility of improving the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the additional foreign exchange costs of the British Army of the Rhine caused by the revaluation of the Deutschemark; and whether the current Anglo-German Offset Agreement is to be adjusted to offset these additional costs.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence told the House on 4th November, the foreign exchange costs of B.A.O.R. are expected to rise by about 8 per cent. in a full year. Since the relevant articles of the current Anglo-German Offset Agreement are denominated in Deutschemarks, the amount of German purchases made in this country will rise by 9·3 per cent. in sterling terms.—[Vol. 790, c. 88.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has received from the Stockport Educational Authority for the building of an additional primary school in Offerton; and what action he proposes to take.

The Stockport local education authority proposes to build a new primary school for 280 pupils at Marple Road, Offerton. My right hon. Friend has included the project in the current Preliminary List in the expectation that a start will be made in 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will review his decision not to participate in the construction of a £125 million European atom smasher for nuclear energy research on C.E.R.N., in view of the French Government's recent decision to contribute to the project.

I have noted with great interest the French Government's decision, which will enable the project to go ahead. The Government have not reconsidered the matter, but I am well aware of the views of the Science Research Council in favour of British participation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that the British troops in Germany have adequate supplies of winter clothing; and if he will make a statement.

British troops in Germany already have a proper supply of winter clothing. This includes the ordinary jersey pullover which every soldier has, and there are also fully adequate stocks of heavy wool jerseys for wear in abnormally cold conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he proposes to increase military spending after 1971; and if, instead, he will make reductions.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication early in December of the White Paper on Public Expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing the number of officers by rank, and in each Service, respectively, whose applications to retire were rejected in each year since 1st January, 1965.

The only figures available are for the Army, and are as follows:

		1965	1966	1967	1968
Brigadier	…	—	—	2	5
Colonel	…	—	—	22	7
Lt.-Colonel	…	—	1	69	61
Major	…	2	2	190	130
Captain	…	5	11	4	10
Lieutenants	…	1	2	5	4
Quartermaster	…	—	—	6	58

The higher figures for 1967 and 1968 include rejected applications by officers seeking redundancy terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many General Service Medals, old style and new style, have been awarded to non-military per- sonnel since 1945; and how many African General Service Medals have been awarded to non-military personnel during the same period.

232,225 old style general service medals, 55,331 new style general service medals and 902 clasps to the old style general service medals, have been awarded to non-military personnel since 1945. During the same period, 49,062 African general service medals have been awarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing the number of servicemen, excluding officers, in each of the three Services, and of the Royal Marines, whose applications for discharge either by purchase or other means, were rejected in each year since 1st January 1965.

I regret that the numbers of applicants for discharge are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many aircraft near misses have taken place in the London/Heathrow control zone during the year ended 16th November 1969; what were the comparative figures for the previous three years; what type of aircraft were involved and which airlines; and what were the detailed positions in the London Air Traffic Control Zone where the near misses took place.

One air miss over Epsom on 11th November is still under investigation. Other than this, no air misses assessed as involving actual risk were reported in the Heathrow Control Zone for the year ending 16th November, 1969. One such incident was reported as occurring between five and ten miles west of Heathrow in 1968. No such incidents were reported in 1967 or in 1966. During these years the annual movement rates at Heathrow increased from about 220,000 to 260,000. The incident in 1968 involved public transport aircraft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the British Airline Pilots' Association to improve air traffic control, in view of the danger of collisions by aircraft in the London area resulting in a major catastrophe affecting residents living beneath the glide path into London Airport, Heathrow.

The Board of Trade is in continual consultation with the British Air Line Pilots' Association, as with other user bodies, across the whole field of air traffic control and other matters relating to civil aviation. The Association is also represented on the Air Miss Working Group which examines air-miss reports and recommends on any action required, and is a member of the Civil Aircraft Control Advisory Committee which meets regularly to consider particular air traffic control arrangements in the United Kingdom and any proposals for improving them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations exist to protect the public from rabies carried by performing dogs which have come from areas in which rabies is prevalent.

The licensing provisions of Article 2(4)(a) of the Importation of Dogs and Cats Order, 1928. These were described in my reply to the hon. Member on 20th March, 1968.—[Vol. 761, c. 95–6.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken to ensure that the regulations affecting the movement of performing dogs, which have come from areas in which rabies is prevalent, are complied with.

Performing dogs imported into Great Britain are subject to movement controls enforced by the agricultural departments, local authorities and the police; these dogs can be moved only under licence and by authorised carrying agents.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what gross salary would be required by the Prime Minister to give him a net income after tax equivalent to his present net income, including the unvouched tax-free element of his salary, but taking no account of his parliamentary or other allowances: and to what taxes such a gross income would be subject in this financial year.

£14,000, subject to a statutory deduction for tax purposes of £4,000 in respect of expenses admissible under the Schedule E expenses rule as being incurred "wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of" the duties of the office; the answer to the second part of the Question would depend upon individual circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons have been prosecuted since 13th February, 1969 for failing to declare their holdings of gold coins as required by Statutory Instrument No. 438, 1966; and how many persons have been convicted, on what dates, and with what sentences and in respect of what number and types of coins in each case.

Strictly speaking offences do not arise on failure to declare but in respect of buying, selling and holding gold coins without Treasury permission. There have been two prosecutions in respect of such offences under the Exchange Control Act, 1947, since 13th February, 1969. The first took place on 29th October and involved one person and the sentence was a fine of £250. The coins in this case were 46 sovereigns and 46 half sovereigns. The second was on 18th November and involved one person and the sentence was a fine of £50. The coins in this case were 43 sovereigns.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has made and what time scale he is considering for the full repayment of Great Britain's short-term indebtedness.

My plans are to continue as long as may be necessary with the policies which are currently bringing considerable success in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the circumstances in which the Metropolitan Police were called to the house of a person claiming diplomatic immunity in Langland Crescent, Stanmore, at midnight on 18th October last; and what steps are being taken to ensure that constituents of the hon. Member for Harrow, East are not subjected to disturbances which could be dealt with in the courts if the perpetrator had not diplomatic immunity.

At 12.54 a.m. on 19th October, the police received a complaint that a noisy party was taking place at a house in Langland Crescent, Stan-more. Officers called at the house, but, there being no evidence of noise or nuisance by anyone at the time, there was no action which they could properly take. The question of the occupant's entitlement to diplomatic immunity did not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the practice of encouraging traffic wardens through the establishment of league tables to increase the number of tickets for parking offences issued each week; and whether he will issue advice to all responsible authorities to avoid this practice.

No representations have been received. I do not know of any official encouragement of league tables and I do not think that advice from my right hon. Friend is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what special financial assistance he is providing to the Borough of Bedford during the present and coming financial year to help with the high percentage of non-English speaking children in some of the primary schools in Bedford;(2) what special financial assistance he is providing for the Borough of Bedford during the present and coming financial year, in view of the high percentage of immigrants in Bedford.

Financial assistance is provided by the Government under Section 11 of the Local Government Act, 1966, in respect of the extra staffing costs incurred by local authorities in making special provision for Commonwealth immigrants. Grant is paid at the rate of 75 per cent. The total expected expenditure for the Borough of Bedford is £25,946 in 1969–70 and £33,094 in 1970–71. Within these totals, the expenditure related to teachers specially employed because of the presence of immigrants is of the order of £21,900 and £28,700 respectively. It is not possible to identify expenditure relating specifically to primary schools.Under the second phase of the Government's Urban Programme, approval was given in June, 1969, to proposed expenditure of £20,000 to provide a language teaching block for immigrant school children in Bedford. Under the Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act, 1969, this expenditure will also qualify for grant at the rate of 75 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Towns Police Clauses Act, 1847, inadequately covers the fare chargeable when a taxicab is ordered by telephone; that the charge to be made for the journey of the taxi to the house is consequently uncontrolled; and whether he will amend the byelaw stating that the taxi driver shall put the flag down at the commencement of the journey to define the commencement of the journey.

I am aware that the Town Police Clauses Act, 1847, does not give local authorities power to define the moment when a journey begins. But my right hon. Friend thinks that this is a matter best left to agreement between the driver and the hirer of a taxicab.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will publish in HANSARD details giving the number of private secretaries in the Treasury who are capable of shorthand and typing and who are in receipt of a salary of £750 per annum or less; and whether he will give similar details for the whole of the Civil Service.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to typing staff in the personal secretary grades. In this case the answer is "none".

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the fact that 204 council houses were started in the borough of Working- ton during the first nine months of 1969, whether he will correct the figures given on page 3 of Local Housing Statistics No. 11.

The figures in Local Housing Statistics No. 11 are of housing progress in the first half of 1969, when Workington Borough Council had reported no starts on their own account. The next issue, No. 12, will show progress in the first nine months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many acres of land have been registered under the Commons Registration Act, 1966, at the last convenient date; what is the total number of such registrations; and how many objections have been received.

By the end of March, 1969 there had been 11,185 provisional registrations of land and 356 objections had been made. Figures for the total acreage are not yet readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were built in the county of Northumberland in 1967–68 by local authorities and private builders; how many have been commenced in 1969; and whether he will give details of the local authorities concerned.

The information required is:

NORTHUMBERLAND
			1967	1968
Completions
Public	…	…	2,492	4,581
Private	…	…	1,677	1,995
Total	…	…	4,169	6,576
			1969 (To September)
Starts
Public	…	…	1,888
Private	…	…	1,795
Total	…	…	3,683

The figures for individual local authority areas in the county will be found in Local Housing Statistics, published by H.M. Stationery Office.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has recently sent to local authorities on the moving of gipsies from place to place; what application he has received from Manchester Corporation in respect of loan sanction for a permanent site: and if he will make a statement.

The most recent general advice was given in the Department's Circular 49 of 1968, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. No application for loan sanction for this purpose has been received from Manchester Corporation. Any such application would be sympathetically considered

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure public access to all broads and staithes whether publicly or privately owned.

The powers of local planning authorities to provide public access to open country, whether in public or private ownership, were extended by the Countryside Act, 1968, to cover rivers, canals, expanses of water through which rivers run and strips of adjacent land. My right hon. Friend will ask these authorities shortly to undertake a further review of their arrangements for public access.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to confer on local authorities power to protect land, which is not privately owned, adjacent to public staithes.

I do not know of any general need for such legislation, but if my hon. Friend will let me have details of any difficulties I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many people have claimed rent relief in the county borough of Bolton since the start of the scheme to the latest convenient date; and what has been the amount allowed annually in each year.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. On the basis of the Housing Statistics so far published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants the estimated total value of rent rebates given by the Council is as follows:

				£
1961–62	…	…	…	164,000
1962–63	…	…	…	199,000
1963–64	…	…	…	207,000
1964–65	…	…	…	203,000
1965–66	…	…	…	135,000
1966–67	…	…	…	109,960
1967–68	…	…	…	71,586

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications have been made by Lambeth Borough Council for loan sanction to purchase houses within the Brixton comprehensive development area; and how they were dealt with.

No applications for loan sanction have been made for this specific purpose but the council hold a block loan consent to enable them to acquire properties in the borough as a whole, as part of their seven-year housing redevelopment programme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations have been made to him by owners and occupiers of property in the area of the Brixton comprehensive development area about the proposal to designate the area an action area under the Town and Country Planning Act 1968; and what reply he has sent.

None.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what proposals have been made to him to designate the present Brixton comprehensive development area as an action area under the Town and Country Planning Act 1968; and what estimates he has made of the sums for which loan sanction will be required to purchase houses under the provisions of that Act which give the right to an owner-occupier to serve a purchase notice in respect of a house in an action area;(2) what estimate he has made of the number of owner-occupied houses which fall within the area of the proposed comprehensive development area for central Brixton which he has under consideration;(3) whether the Lambeth Borough Council and the Greater London Council have now submitted to him for confirmation resolutions prescribing the central area of Brixton as a comprehensive development area; and when he intends to hold a public inquiry into the matter under the Town and Country Planning Acts.

The Greater London Development Plan submitted for my right hon. Friend's approval last August includes Brixton town centre as one of 56 action areas where the Greater London Council considers that comprehensive development should be carried out. The plan proposes that the London borough councils concerned will be responsible for preparing and adopting action area plans in all cases except those where the G.L.C. consider that it should itself be responsible.In the case of the Brixton town centre, implementation will be the responsibility of the Lambeth Borough Council. They have recently prepared a scheme but this has not yet been formally submitted to my right hon. Friend. Consequently I am not in a position to make any estimates of the sums for which loan sanction will be required to purchase houses where owner-occupiers might serve a purchase notice. Neither can I make an estimate of the number of owner-occupied houses which might fall within the area of comprehensive development.The list of proposed action areas in the Greater London Development Plan will of course be considered as part of the inquiry into that plan. When my right hon. Friend receives specific proposals for Brixton town centre, either as an amendment to the present development plan or as an action area under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968, it will doubtless be necessary to hold a public inquiry to hear objections and representations to the proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give loan sanction to Lambeth Borough Council to enable that Council to purchase from owner-occupiers houses which are blighted by the proposals for a comprehensive development area for central Brixton.

My right hon. Friend is willing to consider the issue of loan sanction where it can be shown that hardship to owner-occupiers would arise from planning blight.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy with regard to assistance for owner-occupiers of houses who suffer hardship and inconvenience when their houses are blighted by proposals for comprehensive development areas which are the subject of a resolution of a local authority.

Local authorities have been asked in Circular 15/69 to deal with cases of this kind as sympathetically as possible. Loan sanction is not normally withheld for discretionary purchases in cases of hardship.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new dwellings were completed by private enterprise and how many by the local authority in the borough of Bedford in 1966, 1967 and 1968.

The numbers are:

		New dwellings completed by
		private enterprise	the local authority
1966	…	144	349
1967	…	160	47
1968	…	160	260

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total number of staff currently employed by the Land Commission.